Press release issued by Netflix, Inc. on April 23, 2009

EX-99.1 2 dex991.htm PRESS RELEASE ISSUED BY NETFLIX, INC. ON APRIL 23, 2009 Press release issued by Netflix, Inc. on April 23, 2009

Exhibit 99.1

LOGO


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE	IR CONTACT:	Deborah Crawford
Thursday, April 23, 2009		VP, Investor Relations
		408 540-3712

	PR CONTACT:	Steve Swasey
		VP, Corporate Communications
		408 540-3947

Netflix Announces Q1 2009 Financial Results

Subscribers – 10.3 million

Revenue – $394.1 million

GAAP Net Income – $22.4 million

GAAP EPS – $0.37 per diluted share

LOS GATOS, Calif., April 23, 2009 – Netflix, Inc. (Nasdaq: NFLX) today reported results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2009.

“First quarter results showed strong momentum driven by consumer attraction to our unlimited rental proposition,” said Reed Hastings, Netflix co-founder and chief executive officer. “We added more net subscribers than in any previous quarter in our history and grew year-over-year GAAP EPS by 76 percent.”

First-Quarter 2009 Financial Highlights

Subscribers. Netflix ended the first quarter of 2009 with approximately 10,310,000 total subscribers, representing 25 percent year-over-year growth from 8,243,000 total subscribers at the end of the first quarter of 2008 and 10 percent sequential growth from 9,390,000 subscribers at the end of the fourth quarter of 2008.

Net subscriber change in the quarter was an increase of 920,000 compared to an increase of 764,000 for the same period of 2008 and an increase of 718,000 for the fourth quarter of 2008.

Gross subscriber additions for the quarter totaled 2,413,000, representing 30 percent year-over-year growth from 1,862,000 gross subscriber additions in the first quarter of 2008 and 16 percent quarter-over-quarter growth from 2,085,000 gross subscriber additions in the fourth quarter of 2008.

Of the 10,310,000 total subscribers at quarter end, 98 percent, or 10,116,000, were paid subscribers. The other 2 percent, or 194,000, were free subscribers. Paid subscribers represented 98 percent of total subscribers at the end of the first quarter of 2008 and at the end of the fourth quarter of 2008.

Revenue for the first quarter of 2009 was $394.1 million, representing 21 percent year-over-year growth from $326.2 million for the first quarter of 2008, and a 10 percent sequential increase from $359.6 million for the fourth quarter of 2008.

Gross margin¹ for the first quarter of 2009 was 34.2 percent compared to 31.7 percent for the first quarter of 2008 and 35.2 percent for the fourth quarter of 2008.

GAAP net income for the first quarter of 2009 was $22.4 million, or $0.37 per diluted share compared to GAAP net income of $13.3 million, or $0.21 per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2008 and GAAP net income of $22.7 million, or $0.38 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2008. GAAP net income grew 68 percent on a year-over-year basis and GAAP EPS grew 76 percent on a year-over-year basis.

Non-GAAP net income was $24.2 million, or $0.40 per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2009 compared to non-GAAP net income of $15.2 million, or $0.23 per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2008 and non-GAAP net income of $24.6 million, or $0.41 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2008. Non-GAAP net income grew 59 percent on a year-over-year basis and non-GAAP EPS grew 74 percent on a year-over-year basis.

Non-GAAP net income equals net income on a GAAP basis before stock-based compensation expense, net of taxes.

Stock-based compensation was $3.1 million for the first quarter of 2009 and the first quarter of 2008 and $3.2 million for the fourth quarter of 2008. Stock-based compensation is presented in the same lines of the Consolidated Statements of Operations as cash compensation paid to the same individuals.

Subscriber acquisition cost² for the first quarter of 2009 was $25.79 per gross subscriber addition compared to $29.48 for the same period of 2008 and $26.67 for the fourth quarter of 2008.

Churn³ for the first quarter of 2009 was 4.2 percent compared to 3.9 percent for the first quarter of 2008 and 4.2 percent for the fourth quarter of 2008. Churn includes free subscribers as well as paying subscribers who elect not to renew their monthly subscription service during the quarter.

Free cash flow⁴ for the first quarter of 2009 was $15.1 million compared to $4.8 million in the first quarter of 2008 and $51.0 million for the fourth quarter of 2008.

Cash provided by operating activities for the first quarter of 2009 was $65.6 million compared to $64.1 million for the first quarter of 2008 and $92.1 million for the fourth quarter of 2008.

¹	Gross margin is defined as revenues less cost of subscription and fulfillment expenses divided by revenues.

²	Subscriber acquisition cost is defined as the total marketing expense, which includes stock-based compensation for marketing personnel, on the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations divided by total gross subscriber additions during the quarter.

³	Churn is defined as customer cancellations in the quarter divided by the sum of beginning subscribers and gross subscriber additions, divided by three months.

⁴	Free cash flow is defined as cash provided by operating activities and investing activities excluding the non-operational cash flows from purchases and sales of short-term investments and cash flows from investment in business.

Business Outlook

The Company’s performance expectations for the second quarter of 2009 and full-year 2009 are as follows:

Second-Quarter 2009

•

Ending subscribers of 10.4 million to 10.6 million

•

Revenue of $403 million to $409 million

•

GAAP net income of $27 million to $32 million

•

GAAP EPS of $0.44 to $0.53 per diluted share

Full-Year 2009

•

Ending subscribers of 11.2 million to 11.8 million, up from 10.6 million to 11.3 million

•

Revenue of $1.63 billion to $1.67 billion, up from $1.58 billion to $1.635 billion

•

GAAP net income of $96 million to $106 million, up from $88 million to $98 million

•

GAAP EPS of $1.56 to $1.72 per diluted share, up from $1.43 to $1.59 per diluted share

Float and Trading Plans

The Company estimates the public float at approximately 49,881,757 shares as of March 31, 2009, down slightly from 50,150,991 shares as of December 31, 2008, based on registered shares held in street name with the Depository Trust and Clearing Corporation. From time to time executive officers of Netflix may elect to buy or sell stock in Netflix. All open market sales by executive officers are made pursuant to the terms of 10b5-1 Trading Plans approved by the Company and generally adopted no less than three months prior to the first date of sale under such plan.

Earnings Call

The Netflix earnings call will be webcast today at 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time / 3:00 p.m. Pacific Time, and may be accessed at http://ir.netflix.com. The call will consist of prepared remarks, followed by a Q&A with questions submitted via email. Please email your questions to dcrawford@netflix.com. The company will read the questions aloud on the call and respond to as many questions as possible.

Following completion of the call, a replay of the webcast will be available at http://ir.netflix.com. The telephone replay of the call will be available from approximately 6:00 p.m. Pacific Time on April 23, 2009 through midnight on April 27, 2009. To listen to a replay, call (719) 457-0820, access code 1494991.

Use of Non-GAAP Measures

Management believes that non-GAAP net income is a useful measure of operating performance because it excludes the non-cash impact of stock option accounting. In addition, management believes that free cash flow is a useful measure of liquidity because it excludes the non-operational cash flows from purchases and sales of short-term investments, cash flows from investment in business and cash flows from financing activities. However, these non-GAAP measures should be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for or superior to, net income and net cash provided by operating activities, or other financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP. A reconciliation to the GAAP equivalents of these non-GAAP measures is contained in tabular form on the attached unaudited financial statements.

About Netflix

Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ: NFLX) is the world’s largest online movie rental service, with more than ten million subscribers. For one low monthly price, Netflix members can get DVDs delivered to their homes and can instantly watch movies and TV episodes streamed to their TVs and PCs, all in unlimited amounts. Members can choose from over 100,000 DVD titles and a growing library of more than 12,000 choices that can be watched instantly. There are never any due dates or late fees. DVDs are delivered free to members by first class mail, with a postage-paid return envelope, from 58 distribution centers. More than 97 percent of Netflix members live in areas that generally receive shipments in one business day. Netflix is also partnering with leading consumer electronics companies to offer a range of devices that can instantly stream movies and TV episodes to members’ TVs from Netflix. For more information, visit http://www.netflix.com/.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including statements regarding our subscriber growth, revenue, GAAP net income and earnings per share for the second quarter of 2009 and the full-year 2009. The forward-looking statements in this release are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and events to differ, including, without limitation: our ability to attract new subscribers and retain existing subscribers, especially in the current uncertain economic environment; our ability to manage our subscriber acquisition cost as well as the cost of content delivered to our subscribers; fluctuations in consumer usage of our service; the continued availability of content on terms and conditions acceptable to us; the deterioration of the U.S. economy and its affect on online commerce or the filmed entertainment industry; conditions that effect our delivery through the U.S. Postal Service, including regulatory changes and postal rate increases; changes in the costs of acquiring DVDs or electronic content; consumer spending on DVDs and related products; disruption in service on our website or with our computer systems; competition and widespread consumer adoption of different modes of viewing in-home filmed entertainment. A detailed discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and events to differ materially from such forward-looking statements is included in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 25, 2009. We undertake no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this press release.

Netflix, Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Operations

(unaudited)

(in thousands, except per share data)


	Three Months Ended
	March 31, 2009			December 31, 2008			March 31, 2008
Revenues	$	394,098		$	359,595		$	326,183
Cost of revenues:
Subscription		215,299			193,635			187,156
Fulfillment expenses *		43,969			39,211			35,649

Total cost of revenues		259,268			232,846			222,805

Gross profit		134,830			126,749			103,378
Operating expenses:
Technology and development *		24,200			24,052			20,267
Marketing *		62,242			55,617			54,895
General and administrative *		13,014			10,762			13,739
Gain on disposal of DVDs		(1,097	)		(1,603	)		(833	)

Total operating expenses		98,359			88,828			88,068

Operating income		36,471			37,921			15,310
Other income (expense):
Interest expense on lease financing obligations		(670	)		(677	)		(423	)
Interest and other income (expense)		1,610			852			7,660

Income before income taxes		37,411			38,096			22,547
Provision for income taxes		15,048			15,364			9,203

Net income	$	22,363		$	22,732		$	13,344

Net income per share:
Basic	$	0.38		$	0.39		$	0.21
Diluted	$	0.37		$	0.38		$	0.21
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic		58,734			58,906			62,776
Diluted		60,709			60,311			64,840

* Stock-based compensation included in expense line items:

Fulfillment expenses	$	120		$	126		$	106
Technology and development		1,071			1,095			996
Marketing		443			462			509
General and administrative		1,498			1,511			1,519

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
(unaudited)
Non-GAAP net income reconciliation:

GAAP net income	$	22,363		$	22,732		$	13,344
Stock-based compensation		3,132			3,194			3,130
Income tax effect of stock-based compensation		(1,259	)		(1,287	)		(1,277	)

Non-GAAP net income	$	24,236		$	24,639		$	15,197

Non-GAAP net income per share:
Basic	$	0.41		$	0.42		$	0.24
Diluted	$	0.40		$	0.41		$	0.23
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic		58,734			58,906			62,776
Diluted		60,709			60,311			64,840

Netflix, Inc.

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(unaudited)

(in thousands, except share and par value data)


	As of
	March 31, 2009			December 31, 2008
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	115,131		$	139,881
Short-term investments		171,358			157,390
Prepaid expenses		8,210			8,122
Prepaid revenue sharing expenses		13,957			18,417
Current content library, net		33,299			18,691
Deferred tax assets		5,542			5,617
Other current assets		17,383			13,329

Total current assets		364,880			361,447
Content library, net		105,361			98,547
Property and equipment, net		123,817			124,948
Deferred tax assets		23,107			22,409
Other assets		11,513			10,595

Total assets	$	628,678		$	617,946

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	$	112,767		$	100,344
Accrued expenses		32,108			31,394
Current portion of lease financing obligations		1,215			1,152
Deferred revenue		80,623			83,127

Total current liabilities		226,713			216,017
Lease financing obligations, excluding current portion		37,656			37,988
Other liabilities		17,997			16,786

Total liabilities		282,366			270,791
Stockholders’ equity:
Common stock, $0.001 par value; 160,000,000 shares authorized at March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008; 58,495,014 and 58,862,478 issued and outstanding at March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively		63			62
Additional paid-in capital		358,620			338,577
Treasury stock at cost (4,667,627 shares)		(142,739	)		(100,020	)
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income		(447	)		84
Retained earnings		130,815			108,452

Total stockholders’ equity		346,312			347,155

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	628,678		$	617,946

Netflix, Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(unaudited)

(in thousands)


	Three Months Ended
	March 31, 2009			December 31, 2008			March 31, 2008
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$	22,363		$	22,732		$	13,344
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization of property, equipment and intangibles		9,175			9,141			6,584
Amortization of content library		49,304			47,579			57,570
Amortization of discounts and premiums on investments		194			184			139
Stock-based compensation expense		3,132			3,194			3,130
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation		(3,684	)		(753	)		(820	)
Loss on disposal of property and equipment		144			—			—
(Gain) loss on sale of short-term investments		(572	)		618			(4,320	)
Gain on disposal of DVDs		(2,033	)		(3,494	)		(2,592	)
Deferred taxes		(623	)		(1,172	)		(859	)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		(391	)		11,038			2,750
Content library		(22,091	)		(11,123	)		(23,412	)
Accounts payable		8,572			(7,917	)		8,680
Accrued expenses		4,331			171			7,827
Deferred revenue		(2,504	)		17,232			(3,290	)
Other assets and liabilities		316			4,670			(669	)

Net cash provided by operating activities		65,633			92,100			64,062

Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of short-term investments		(52,384	)		(76,118	)		(91,954	)
Proceeds from sale of short-term investments		36,933			59,723			175,319
Proceeds from maturities of short-term investments		1,330			—			—
Purchases of property and equipment		(6,572	)		(7,471	)		(12,431	)
Acquisition of intangible asset		(200	)		—			—
Acquisitions of content library		(46,499	)		(38,295	)		(51,316	)
Proceeds from sale of DVDs		2,726			4,695			4,507
Investment in business		—			—			(6,000	)
Other assets		(2	)		(32	)		8

Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities		(64,668	)		(57,498	)		18,133

Cash flows from financing activities:
Principal payments of lease financing obligations		(269	)		(237	)		(122	)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock		13,589			3,231			8,542
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation		3,684			753			820
Repurchases of common stock		(42,719	)		(9,992	)		(99,885	)

Net cash used in financing activities		(25,715	)		(6,245	)		(90,645	)

Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents		(24,750	)		28,357			(8,450	)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period		139,881			111,524			177,439

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$	115,131		$	139,881		$	168,989

Non-GAAP free cash flow reconciliation:
Net cash provided by operating activities	$	65,633		$	92,100		$	64,062
Purchases of property and equipment		(6,572	)		(7,471	)		(12,431	)
Acquisition of intangible asset		(200	)		—			—
Acquisitions of content library		(46,499	)		(38,295	)		(51,316	)
Proceeds from sale of DVDs		2,726			4,695			4,507
Other assets		(2	)		(32	)		8

Non-GAAP free cash flow	$	15,086		$	50,997		$	4,830

Netflix, Inc.

Consolidated Other Data

(unaudited)

(in thousands, except percentages, average monthly revenue per paying subscriber and subscriber acquisition cost)


	As of / Three Months Ended
	March 31, 2009			December 31, 2008			March 31, 2008
Subscriber information:
Subscribers: beginning of period		9,390			8,672			7,479
Gross subscriber additions: during period		2,413			2,085			1,862
Gross subscriber additions year-to-year change		29.6	%		39.5	%		22.5	%
Gross subscriber additions quarter-to-quarter sequential change		15.7	%		36.5	%		24.5	%
Less subscriber cancellations: during period		(1,493	)		(1,367	)		(1,098	)
Subscribers: end of period		10,310			9,390			8,243
Subscribers year-to-year change		25.1	%		25.6	%		21.3	%
Subscribers quarter-to-quarter sequential change		9.8	%		8.3	%		10.2	%
Free subscribers: end of period		194			226			141
Free subscribers as percentage of ending subscribers		1.9	%		2.4	%		1.7	%
Paid subscribers: end of period		10,116			9,164			8,102
Paid subscribers year-to-year change		24.9	%		25.1	%		21.4	%
Paid subscribers quarter-to-quarter sequential change		10.4	%		7.9	%		10.6	%
Average monthly revenue per paying subscriber	$	13.63		$	13.58		$	14.09
Churn		4.2	%		4.2	%		3.9	%
Subscriber acquisition cost	$	25.79		$	26.67		$	29.48
Margins:
Gross margin		34.2	%		35.2	%		31.7	%
Operating margin		9.3	%		10.5	%		4.7	%
Net margin		5.7	%		6.3	%		4.1	%
Expenses as percentage of revenues:
Technology and development		6.1	%		6.7	%		6.2	%
Marketing		15.8	%		15.5	%		16.8	%
General and administrative		3.3	%		3.0	%		4.2	%
Gain on disposal of DVDs		(0.2	%)		(0.5	%)		(0.2	%)

Total operating expenses		25.0	%		24.7	%		27.0	%
Year-to-year change:
Total revenues		20.8	%		18.9	%		6.8	%
Subscription		15.0	%		14.8	%		13.3	%
Fulfillment expenses		23.3	%		25.0	%		19.7	%
Technology and development		19.4	%		30.3	%		29.8	%
Marketing		13.4	%		7.6	%		(23.9	%)
General and administrative		(5.3	%)		(20.7	%)		13.0	%
Gain on disposal of DVDs		31.7	%		(5.5	%)		(8.3	%)
Total operating expenses		11.7	%		8.3	%		(11.0	%)